Joe Sakic was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He spent his entire career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Nell Seiler, USA TODAY

The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996, their first season after moving to Denver. Sakic, right, celebrates with Mike Ricci after the Avalanche swept the Florida Panthers. Hans Deryk, AP

After Mark Messier, left, signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997, the New York Rangers signed Sakic to a three-year, $21 million offer sheet that included a $15 million signing bonus. The Avalanche matched. Paul Chiasson, AP

After Mark Messier, left, signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997, the New York Rangers signed Sakic to a three-year, $21 million offer sheet that included a $15 million signing bonus. The Avalanche matched. Jeff Roberson, AP

Sakic played for Team Canada in the 1998 Olympics, the first to use NHL players. He left the tournament with an injury. Alan Lessig, USA TODAY

Colorado's Ray Bourque, left, and Sakic wave during the Avalanche's 2001 championship parade. After the win, Sakic immediately handed the Cup to Bourque, who lifted the trophy for the first time in his distinguished career. Ed Andrieski, AP

Sakic later that month won the Hart Trophy, right, as league MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play. Frank Gunn, AP

Jarome Iginla, left, and Sakic each scored twice against the USA in the 2002 championship game in Salt Lake City as Canada won its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Sakic shows off the puck with which he scored his 600th career goal on Feb. 15, 2007. He had five points in the game. He finished his career with 1,641 points in 1,378 games. Jeff McIntosh, AP

Like Sakic, Sundin was elected in his first year of eligibility and began his career in Quebec. The Swedish center was drafted No. 1 overall in 1989, the first European to be chosen that high. He had a career-best 47 goals and 114 points in 1992-93. Denis Brodeur, NHLI via Getty Images

Sundin was traded to the Maple Leafs in 1994. He played 13 seasons with Toronto and finished as the franchise leader in goals and points. Glenn Cratty, Getty Images

Sundin was named Maple Leafs captain in 1997. The team reached the Eastern Conference final in 1999 and 2003 under his captainship. Gene J. Puskar, AP

Sundin was captain of the Swedish team that won the 2006 Olympic gold medal in Torino. He also won three world championships. Evan Siegle, USA TODAY

Sundin, right, is hugged by teammate Bryan McCabe after scoring his 500th career goal on Oct. 14, 2006. He had hit the 1,000-point mark in 2003. Frank Gunn, AP

Sundin, right, received the NHL's Mark Messier Leadership Award from the Hall of Famer in 2008. Keith Srakocic, AP

Sundin played his final season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2008-09. He finished his career with 1,349 points in 1,346 games. Tom Szczerbowski. US Presswire

Adam Oates went undrafted out of RPI and signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985. After four seasons, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues. Steve Babineau Getty Images

Oates and Brett Hull (shown at Hull's number retirement ceremony) were a dynamic combination during their 2 1/2 seasons together in St. Louis. Oates had 90 assists during 1990-91, when Hull had 86 goals. Scott Rovak, US Presswire

Oates, dealt to the Boston Bruins, was Cam Neely's center when Neely had 50 goals in 49 games in 1993-94. Oates had a career-best 142 points with the Bruins in 1992-93, a season in which Neely was limited to 13 games by injury. Steve Babineau, NHLI via Getty Images

After being critical of Bruins management, Oates was traded in 1997 to the Washington Capitals, where he took the number 77 to honor his friend Ray Bourque. He led the Capitals to the 1998 Stanley Cup Final. Doug Mills, AP

Pavel Bure left Russia to join the Vancouver Canucks in 1991. He won rookie of the year and had two 60-goal seasons with the Canucks. Porter Binks, USA TODAY

Bure led the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in seven games to the New York Rangers. Goalie Mike Richter stopped him on a penalty shot in Game 4. Mike Powell, Getty Images

Bure and the Canucks went to Japan at the beginning of the 1997-98 season to whet fans' anticipation for the Nagano Olympics. He was a popular figure with fans at the airport. Itsuo Inouye, AP

He also was surrounded by autograph seekers at the Tokyo arena. Tsugufumi Matsumoto, AP

On the ice, Bure had a goal in each game as the Canucks and Mighty Ducks split 1-1. Itsuo Inouye, AP

Bure scored five times in the semifinal against Finland, and Russia won a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

After a contract dispute in 1998-99, Bure was dealt to the Florida Panthers in January. He got off to a great start, but was lost for the season after tearing his ACL for the second time in his career. Mark Lennihan, AP

Bure recovered quickly from his knee issue and won the Rocket Richard Trophy with 58- and 59-goal seasons in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Gary I. Rothstein, AP

Bure was named captain of the Panthers in 2001-02. Rick Stewart, Getty Images/NHLI

Bure was traded to the New York Rangers in 2002. Though he had 50 points in 51 games there, knee problems ended his career. He finished with 437 goals and 779 points in 702 games Ed Bailey, AP